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COMMON HARE. 



Lepus europceus. 

 French : Lievre. German : Hase. 



The Hare m England is coursed by Greyhounds, and 

 hunted with Harriers. It shows great apprehension 

 when being chased, and, when seized, utters a piercing 

 cry. It is a comparatively inoffensive, harmless creature, 

 living in fields and open country, and rarely doing 

 damage to crops or vegetation, except in the winter, 

 when, if the winter be severe, it enters gardens, and 

 gnaws the bark of .young trees and shrubs. When the 

 snow is very deep, the Hare avails itself of this means 

 to reach the higher twigs or branches. We cannot 

 therefore see the reason of its having been included in 

 the Ground Game Act, its powers of destruction, and 

 increase being so limited in comparison to the Eabbit, 

 and its numbers have considerably declined since the 

 passing of this measure. 



The Hare is protected by a close time in Ireland, 

 commencing April 20th, and ending August 11th. 

 Hare-hunting begins in England on October 28th, and 

 continues till February 28th, but many are shot before 

 the hunting season, and some are killed in March by 

 Harriers. 



Hares are hunted two or three days a week, with 

 packs of from 12 to 55 Hounds. 



There are 99 packs of Harriers in England ; 

 ,, 6 ,, ,, in Scotland ; 



and ,, 25 ,, ,, in Ireland. 



Hares sometimes take to the sea when hunted, and 



